Volume XXX, No. 27 • Sept. 8, 2006

• CSA positions open

• Resignations

• Theisz publishes poem in Poetry Midwest

• CSA council will meet

• Community members encouraged to join BHSU music groups

• More than 100 volunteers welcome new freshmen

• Fidler donation will provide music scholarships

• Memorial donation for Rich Gordon enhances conservation section of library

• Grant program provides information about FASD

• Volunteer fair held at Black Hills State University

• Spitalfield will perform at BHSU

• Results announced for Welcome Back Students Disc Golf Tournament at BHSU

• BHSU Sabbatical Policy

• Grants opportunities announced

• Instructional improvement proposals now being accepted

Submit items to Campus Currents

Campus Currents is distributed every Friday. To submit an item send it to Campus Currents, Unit 9512, or email it to Campus Currents. The deadline for submissions is Thursday at 8 a.m.
 

CSA positions open

The following Career Service positions are open:

·    Senior Secretary (1/2 time), Grants & Special Projects

·    Senior Secretary with Keyboarding, Financial Aid Office (Limited to status Career Service employees of Black Hills State University)

Apply on-line at http://yourfuture.sdbor.edu/

Resignations

The following CSA resignations have been received:

·        Dennis Carlson, Custodial Worker, Facilities Services

·        Terry Palmer, Custodial Worker, Facilities Services

Theisz publishes poem in Poetry Midwest - top

Dr. R.D. Theisz, Black Hills State University professor and chair of the Department of Humanities, published his poem “Visions of Faith” in the Summer 2006 issue of Poetry Midwest, an online literary journal that is published three times a year.

According to Theisz, “Visions of Faith” portrays both an urban service and a grassroots South Dakota Indian ceremony as it attempts to develop the poet Rike’s notion that “religion is a direction of the heart.”

Theisz received his master’s degree in German from Middlebury College and his Ph.D. in literature from New York University. He has been a member of the BHSU faculty since 1977.

CSA council will meet - top

The CSA council will meet Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m. in residence life conference room in Humbert Hall. According to Nancy Shuck, president of the CSA council, the meeting will include committee reports for safety and facilities, welcome bags and strategic planning. The group will also discuss the summer picnic which was held last month, customer service seminars, proposals for staff development activities and fundraising, and CSA committee assignments.

All CSA employees are welcome to attend.

Community members encouraged to join BHSU music groups - top

Community members are invited to join two music groups at Black Hills State University.  

The Black Hills State University Community Band will begin rehearsing for the 2006-2007 season Monday, Sept. 11. The band meets every Monday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the band room of Clare and Josef Meier Hall. Openings exist for all instruments. Trumpet and French horn players are highly encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Christopher Hahn at 642-6888 or email ChristopherHahn@bhsu.edu.

The Black Hills State University Community Choir will be rehearsing every Tuesday in the choir room on the first floor of Clare and Josef Meier Hall from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Openings exist for soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices.

For more information, contact Steve Parker at 642-6628 or email SteveParker@bhsu.edu.

More than 100 volunteers welcome new freshmen - top

Volunteers included BHSU faculty and staff, football players, volleyball players, Newman Club members, Campus Ventures members, UP Team members as well as representatives from several local businesses including Premier Bankcard and Pioneer Bank and Trust. The volunteers assisted more than 500 students during the annual move-in event.

This event was hugely successful according to Shawnda Carmichael, director of Career Services at BHSU.

“It was truly a collegial effort. Everyone pulled together as a team, even in the pouring ran, and made the students feel welcome from the moment they drove onto campus,” Carmichael said.

She added that Welcome Week activities held during the first week of classes had higher than usual attendance.

Dr. Dean Myers, vice president for academic affairs at Black Hills State University, welcomes new students to campus as a part of a campus-wide move-in welcome. More than 100 volunteers were available on campus to help direct students and assist them with moving into the residence halls and apartments. This was one of several successful welcome week activities held during the first week of the fall semester.

Fidler donation will provide music scholarships - top

A donation of $20,000 from Nadine Fidler will provide on-going music scholarships for Black Hills State University students.

In recognition of the donation, the keyboard lab in Clare and Josef Meier Hall will be named the Raymond H. and Nadine M. Fidler Piano Lab.

According to Mrs. Fidler, she decided to make this significant contribution to the BHSU music department as a token of her tremendous appreciation of the performances at BHSU through the years.

 “Music has always been important to me. When my husband and I came to Spearfish many years ago to establish a business, we were both delighted to discover the excellent music and theatre events at BHSU. We enjoyed attending concerts and plays throughout the years,” Nadine says. “I’m pleased that I was in a position that I could make this donation in memory of my dear husband.”

Dr. Janeen Larsen, chair of Department of Fine and Applied Arts at BHSU, praised Fidler for her generous donation.

“Mrs. Fidler is a talented musician, and she has always been a patron of the arts. Her family’s name on the door of the keyboard lab will be seen by every music student in our department. We are all so pleased and grateful that she is leaving this legacy to future music students,” Larsen said.

The vocal and instrumental scholarships will be awarded to BHSU students beginning in the fall 2007 semester.

Contact Steve Meeker, vice president for institutional advancement, at 642-6228 for additional naming opportunities at Meier Hall.

Memorial donation for Rich Gordon enhances conservation section of library - top

Nearly 70 books, donated in memory of South Dakota native Rich Gordon, will enhance the conservation offerings within the Black Hills State University E.Y. Berry Library Learning Center.

Most of the books belonged to Gordon, a South Dakota native who was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, who died Oct. 28, 2005, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The Gordon family decided to donate the books to BHSU to honor Gordon’s service on the national board of directors for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. The group selected BHSU for the donation because of Gordon's love for the Black Hills region. 

Gordon began his career in the human services field and later entered the political world by working for former Congressman, then Senator Tom Daschle, first as a volunteer and then as West River director. In 1993, Rich joined Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey's re-election campaign as field director. When Gordon left politics he pursued his life-long love of wildlife, choosing a job working to protect their habitat for his fellow sportsmen. He was hired as a field director for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and quickly rose to the position of director of public relations for the organization, based in Missoula, Mont. In 2002, Gordon accepted the position of vice president for the Mule Deer Foundation, based in Reno, Nev.

Opting for a quieter, simpler life, he and his wife, Cheryl, returned to his beloved Black Hills and built a mountain cabin near Custer with a breathtaking view of the southern Black Hills. After a brief period of consulting work for Custer State Park Resort Company, Rich turned his talents and passion toward advocating for permanent protection of some of South Dakota's heartland prairie areas on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland. His last work was for the South Dakota Grasslands Wilderness Coalition to ensure a bit of his much-loved prairie could be conserved in its wild state for generations to come.

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers conceived and spearheaded the drive donate books to BHSU in Gordon’s name. The group’s board members, friends and colleagues donated the books.

According to Rajeev Bukralia, library director, the donation is excellent resource for BHSU library patrons.

"We sincerely appreciate this generous donation of conservation and biology books," Bukralia said. He added that  Dr. Brian Smith, BHSU biology professor, reviewed the collection and highly recommended its use to establish a conservation section, noting the many classic books included.

 "Rich was an absolute class act and a gentleman," said Mike Beagle, chairman of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. "He was selfless, friendly, polite and gentle. I will miss our conversations about hunting, the wild and the prairie that he loved so much. I had much more to learn from him."

 For more information or to be involved contact Beagle at mbeagle@tu.org.

Grant program provides information about FASD  - top

Staff from the American Indian Health Research Program were at the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union at Black Hills State University Thursday, Sept. 7 to distribute brochures and discuss the implications of maternal drinking during pregnancy and the devastating effects it has on the fetus.

According to Jacob Melson, research assistant with the American Indian Health Research program, the event was planned not only to focus on prevention and awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), but also to recognize International FASD Awareness Day.  Funding for the FASD project at BHSU comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the last three years American Indian Health Research Program at BHSU has conducted numerous conferences concerning FASD in Rapid City and reservations throughout western South Dakota. Grants funds are also used to support two courses on FASD offered through the College of Education at BHSU. A three-credit course on FASD will be offered online during the spring 2007 semester.

Jacob (Jake) Melson, research assistant with the American Indian Health Research Program at Black Hills State University, visits with a student about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) as a part of a nationwide effort to enhance awareness of the disorder. Melson is one of several staff members in the American Indian Health Research Program, a grant funded program at BHSU.

Jacob (Jake) Melson, research assistant with the American Indian Health Research Program at Black Hills State University, visits with a student about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) as a part of a nationwide effort to enhance awareness of the disorder. Melson is one of several staff members in the American Indian Health Research Program, a grant funded program at BHSU.

Volunteer fair held at Black Hills State University - top

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) recently hosted the third annual volunteer fair at Black Hills State University.

Students, faculty and staff met with 19 different community organizations that provided information and answered questions about volunteer options within their organizations. About 250 individuals walked through the fair and visited with the various organizations and approximately 50 applications and interest forms were turned in. This was the AmeriCorps*VISTA C-U-R-E office’s first event of the school year. The next scheduled event is Make a Difference Day, set for Saturday, Oct. 28.

This event sought to encourage others to “Serve to Remember, Remember to Serve” in response to last year’s hurricane Katrina and the five-year anniversary of 9/11, according to Donna Tranium, volunteer coordinator. The VISTA office is the home base for volunteering, community outreach, and support for service-learning at BHSU.

“We keep track of community volunteer opportunities available to students, staff and faculty members,” explains Trainum.

The program is conducted by two AmeriCorps*VISTA employees, Tranium and Janette Hettick, volunteer coordinator, who are available to assist students throughout the year. The Community-University-Resource-Exchange (C-U-R-E) office is located in room 223 of the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union.

For more information about the volunteer opportunities, Make a Difference Day, or C-U-R-E, contact Trainum or Hettick at 642-6471.

A Black Hills State University student visits with Alexa Grant, donor recruitment specialist with United Blood Services, during the AmeriCorp VISTA volunteer fair held on campus last week. Representatives from nearly 20 community organizations were on campus to discuss volunteer opportunities within their organizations. Also pictured is Connie LeZotte from Girls Scouts of America.

Spitalfield will perform at BHSU - top

Black Hills State University will host a concert performance by Spitalfield Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union Jacket Legacy Room.

"Spitalfield,” will perform in a free concert that is open to students and community members. Recently the band "The Spill Canvas" from Sioux Falls played on campus and in a few weeks both bands will be meeting up to tour together.

For more information about the band:  www.spitalfield.net or www.myspace.com/spitalfield

Results announced for Welcome Back Students Disc Golf Tournament at BHSU - top

Thirty five Black Hills State University students and community members gathered on campus recently for the fifth annual BHSU Welcome Back Students Disc Golf Tournament.

According to Don Altmyer, BHSU associate business professor who is also the 2005 PDGA Amateur Grandmaster World Champion, the weather condition was good with sunny skies, warm temperatures and a light prevailing wind creating ideal scoring opportunities for the disc golfers.  Par for the 18 hole course is 54. The tournament was sponsored by the BHSU Recreation Center, University Bookstore, and the University Programming Team.

            BHSU student division results are as follows:

In the community division, Kayne Larimer, Rapid City, won in a sudden death playoff over John Anderson and Scott Ceasar. Anderson scored a hole in one on Hole 11. The results of the community division:

The next BHSU sponsored disc golf tournament will the 11^th Annual Swarm Days Disc Golf Tournament schedule for Friday, Sept. 22 at 3 p.m for BHSU students; and at 5 p.m. for the community tournament. Walk up registration is held at Hole 1 and begins 30 minutes before the tournament. There is a $ 5 entry fee for the community division; the student tournament is free to BHSU students.

BHSU Sabbatical Policy - top

Preliminary Information

A faculty unit member may be granted sabbatical leave after six (6) or more consecutive years of full-time employment in the system.  The  total number of sabbaticals granted for the semester and/or the year by the institution may not exceed 5% of the total fte faculty

for that year. Faculty members are will not be allowed to accept overload or extension contracts from the institution or work on other grants outside of the sabbatical.. A faculty unit member may be granted sabbatical leave after six (6) or more consecutive years of full-time employment in the system.  Applications for sabbatical leave should be submitted in accordance with the current BOR-COHE contract.

1. Complete applications will include the following information:
   1. Filled in Request for sabbatical/educational leave form (available in the college office or online), which will include

Ø      The proposed dates of the leave,

Ø      A brief summary of the leave request,

Ø      A full description of the proposed leave plan,

Ø      Your preparation to do the work of the sabbatical,

Ø      The relation of the project to your long-range professional objectives,

Ø      And the proposed arrangements for financial support; 

2. A current Curriculum Vitae;
3. A signed statement of understanding of the expectations and requirements for sabbatical leave in the BOR-COHE contract (statement is part of the application form);
4. An evaluation of the merit of the proposal by a supervisor, e.g. Department Chair or College Dean.  You may also add the evaluation of a colleague who could assess the value of the work to be done.
5. The supervisor must also complete the last page of the application, which includes

Ø      An analysis of the plan,

Ø      A statement about institutional plans to meet employee duties during the leave,

Ø      Current and estimated leave salaries,

Ø      And a plan for salary savings.

6. The last page should be signed by the Department Chair and College Dean

2. Complete applications must be submitted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs by November 15^th.  The Vice President of Academic Affairs shall deliver all complete applications to the Vice President of the Faculty Senate by the first working day in December.
3. Applications will be considered by the Committee of the Whole of the Faculty Senate during the regularly scheduled December meeting.
4. Applicants may be invited to testify orally on their own behalf at the time their application is considered.
5. Qualified applications receiving a majority vote of the members of the Faculty Senate in attendance will be approved for recommendation to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs.  The President makes the final campus decision to award sabbaticals and forwards the applications to the South Dakota Board of Regents.
6. Within six weeks of return from professional leave, the person granted leave will report his/her activities to the President of Black Hills State University in writing.
7. All faculty receiving sabbatical leave are required to return to the institution granting the leave for at least two academic years of full-time service or to refund the full salary and institutional costs of fringe benefits received while on leave.
8. It shall be the responsibility of the Vice President of the Faculty Senate to perform the following duties:

Ø      Publish this policy;

Ø      Receive applications from the Vice President of Academic Affairs;

Ø      Distribute completed applications to the members of the Faculty Senate a minimum of five working days prior to the regularly scheduled December meeting of the Faculty Senate;

Ø      Inform qualified applicants of the date, time and place of the Faculty Senate meeting at which sabbatical applications will be considered;

Ø      Give Faculty Senate recommendations to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

9. The burden of making a timely and complete application will rest with the applicant.  If an unforeseen opportunity arises later in the year, however, a late application may be submitted for review. 
10. This policy will be published in the first Campus Currents at the beginning of each academic year. 

Grants opportunities announced - top

Below are program materials received in the Grants Office, 309 Woodburn, through September 7, 2006.  For copies of the information, contact our office at 642-6204 or e-mail requests to us at grants@bhsu.edu. Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union bulletin board near the information desk.

We the People Challenge Grants in U.S. History, Institutions, and Culture (NEH), As part of its We the People initiative, the National Endowment for the Humanities invites proposals for challenge grants designed to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for humanities activities that explore significant themes and events in American history, thereby advancing knowledge of the founding principles of the United States in their full historical and institutional context. Deadline: Feb. 1, 2007. A link to the full announcement can be found at http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=10834&mode=VIEW 

Instructional improvement proposals now being accepted - top

The Instructional Improvement Committee (IIC) encourages, through monetary grants, the application of existing knowledge to specific teaching situations to improve the quality of instruction at BHSU.

Any full-time faculty member, full-time adjunct faculty, or other full-time staff member engaged in student instruction may apply for grant funds administered by the committee. Grant funding will normally be available up to a maximum of $1,500 per project.

Priority will be given to projects that will have a broad-based, visible, continuing impact of instruction across faculty members and/or disciplines. Funds are available for development of materials and methods to improve teaching and learning, equipment to enhance teaching and learning, travel to conferences or workshops which enhance teaching and learning, and bringing consulting lecturers and teaching specialists to campus to offer presentations to and/or with faculty and teaching-support staff at BHSU. 

Faculty members who apply for grants to support travel to a conference or workshop are limited to receiving no more than one grant every four years.  In the other categories, priority will be given to those who have not received an IIC grant in the last academic year. 

Proposals for grant funding will be reviewed by the IIC on a monthly basis. Proposals are being accepted for consideration at the September meeting through Wednesday, September 20. Proposals must consist of the proposal and budget outlines as specified on the IIC web page. Please note: Proposals are accepted electronically as an attachment to an e-mail sent to PeggyGubbrud@bhsu.edu. However, a signed original must also be submitted to the Grants Office, Unit 9504, or delivered to Woodburn Hall 213.